In a historic vote that has captured national attention, the U.S. Senate narrowly defeated three Joint Resolutions of Disapproval proposed by independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. These resolutions were designed to block the sale of roughly $20 billion in arms to Israel—a move introduced a full year after Hamas launched its October 7, 2023 attack on the country. The resolutions sought to limit U.S. military support amid an escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the situation has grown increasingly dire.
Despite Sanders’ impassioned argument, the Senate rejected his resolutions in a decisive vote of 18 to 79. The strong support for Israel in the Senate, particularly among Republicans and many moderate Democrats, played a critical role in the defeat of these measures. Although Sanders’ resolutions were unlikely to pass given the political climate, the vote itself carries important symbolic weight. It exposes a rare internal dissent within the Democratic Party over President Joe Biden’s handling of the conflict and his ongoing military support for Israel.
